Key subjects could be compulsory up to 16 in revamp

An independent review has suggested pupils continue these subjects, along with design and technology and the arts, even if they do not take GCSEs in them.

The recommendation is included in an initial report by the expert panel leading the national curriculum review.

It warns that England narrows the curriculum for pupils earlier than other nations with high-performing education systems.

As a result, many young people are “deprived of access to powerful forms of knowledge and experience at a formative time in their lives”, the report says.

It specifically recommends that “curricular provision” be made statutory for 14- to 16-year-olds in geography, history, modern foreign languages, design and technology and the arts.

The report says this will be “demanding” but there need not be detailed information on what pupils should study in each of these subjects.

It adds that there is a risk that shorter guidance on what should be studied in some subjects might mean that some schools put less emphasis on them.

“We believe that this will be mitigated as schools will be held accountable to parents and Ofsted for the choices they make,” it adds.

The panel also says it is not proposing that teenagers follow full GCSE courses in each of the subjects they say should be made statutory.

A move to make these subjects compulsory would tie in with the Government’s new English Baccalaureate – awarded to pupils who gain at least five Cs at GCSE in English, maths, science, history or geography and a foreign language.

The recommendation is part of one of three options the expert panel sets out to slim down the national curriculum – a key aim of the independent review.

These options are: removing subjects from the statutory curriculum, retaining subjects as mandatory but not specifying what is taught in each, keep subjects as statutory but reducing the specifics of what is taught.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “The curriculum must be flexible enough and slim enough for schools to be able to meet the needs of all students.”

In a written Ministerial statement yesterday Education Secretary Michael Gove also confirmed that the shake-up of the curriculum would be delayed for a year.

Changes to the curriculum are now not expected to be in place until 2014.